Alexander Craib presents £3070 cheque to Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation for helping to save his life on September 5

A TEENAGER from Hopeman has paid tribute to a volunteer team from Findhorn that helped save his life.

Alexander 'Zander' Craib (19) was rescued by Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation (MIRO) on the morning of Sunday, September 5 after he was discovered in real trouble on the rocks at Primrose Bay, Hopeman.

Zander said: "I was found was a very isolated area of coast. I had suffered internal injuries which included a ruptured artery to my heart."

MIRO Rescue completed a shore line search from Burghead to Lossiemouth. While searching off Hopeman, the crew were informed that kayakers and paddle boarders had found the casualty on the rocks at Primrose Bay.

A crew assessed the casualty and provided first aid but Zander required further medical assistance so helicopter extraction was requested. HM Coastguard Rescue 151 winched Zander onboard and rushed him to Raigmore Hospital.

Zander said: "MIRO Rescue did not have a rescue body board which could have aided a rescue to the shore so airlift was the only practical solution. On arrival to Raigmore, I was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for open heart surgery."

He added: "I will be grateful to MIRO for the rest of my life. I never realised how valuable the service MIRO provide is. I'm also grateful to rescue helicopter 151 for saving my life."

While Zander was recovering in hospital his friend Kelsie Rae organised a raffle to raise funds. Twenty eight prizes were donated from businesses and the community. Zander’s father received a £500 donation from his colleagues through the BP Andrew Oilfield charity committee. Zander’s employer Sheriffmill Motor Company donated £300 together with a voucher for the raffle.

The collection and raffle raised a total of £3070 for MIRO.

Zander added: "£500 from the money raised in the raffle was donated to Hopeman Memorial hall, as a thanks for allowing use of the hall as a search hub and for their help in coordinating the land searches."

MIRO operations manager, Peter Mackenzie, is grateful for the donation.

He said: "Our team has responded to 28 emergency call outs so far this year but Zander’s rescue and subsequent recovery will be remembered as one of our great success stories. We are delighted he has made a full recovery and is back to work.

"Zander asked that we consider using some of the money to purchase rescue equipment, such as a rescue body board, that could support recovery of a casualty in a similar situation and we are looking into this."

MIRO chairman, John Low, confirmed Zander’s rescue was the fifth involving a search for a missing person.

He said: "MIRO crew and shore support volunteers remain on call 24/7, 365 days of the year. My thanks to all of our crew and shore support volunteers. They are an outstanding team."

Read the original report at https://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/parents-of-hopeman-teenager-thank-community-as-he-is-found-a-250695/